Hand held auxiliary sail

ABSTRACT

A hand held, light weight, multi-purpose, extendable and collapsible omni-wind sail assembly for providing wind propulsion for vehicles such as kayaks, surfboards, small boats, iceboats, land vehicles, and the like. The assembly includes a flexible wind responsive sail surface having a transparent portion for user viewing therethrough, the sail surface attached at each side to masts having an attachable handle for manual maneuverability of the sail. The assembly may be stretched tautly, collapsed, tipped vertically, rotated horizontally, or all in combination simultaneously as the wind conditions may warrant, the masts having length extension means for varying the height of the sail.

BACKGROUND

The background of the invention will be discussed in two parts.

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to wind sails, and more particularly, to an omni-wind hand held portable auxiliary frame-and-sail assembly.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Many versions of portable frame and sail assemblies are to be found in the prior art. There are sail assemblies, comprising many variations of hand maneuverable devices, for uses such as skate sailing, hang gliding, kayaks, surfboards, small boats, iceboats and land vehicles. One such sail is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,473,022 issued to Eastland on 25 Sep. 1984 wherein there is shown a hand maneuverable sailing rig suitable for use with roller skates or ice skates. Another such arrangement is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,081, issued to Mayer on 13 Dec. 1994, which includes a sail that is sized and shaped to define an airfoil configuration. A hand gripping member is disposed on the windward side of the sail and has top and bottom end portions pivotally secured respectively to the mast and a boom.

Such devices are illustrative of arrangements whereby attempts have been made to provide improved frame-and-sail assemblies. However, in view of the prior art, there is still a need for a hand held auxiliary sail providing features shown in the present invention. It is thus an aspect of the present invention to provide a new and improved configuration for an omni-wind, light weight, multi-purpose hand held sail providing for easy and rapid maneuverability of vehicles not present in prior art sail assemblies. It is also an aspect of the invention to provide a frame-and-sail assembly configured with separable components for easy and convenient assembly and disassembly. It is a further aspect of the invention to provide a frame-and-sail assembly configured for easy attachment to and detachment from a vehicle. Numerous other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY

A hand held, light weight, multi-purpose, extendable and collapsible omni-wind sail assembly for providing wind propulsion for vehicles such as kayaks, surfboards, small boats, iceboats, land vehicles, and the like. The sail assembly is secured to the vehicle to be propelled and manually operated. The assembly includes a flexible wind responsive sail surface having a transparent portion for user viewing therethrough, the sail surface attached at each side to masts of rigid tubing, each mast having an attachable handle for manual operation of the sail. The assembly may be stretched tautly, collapsed, tipped vertically, rotated horizontally, or all in combination simultaneously as the wind conditions may warrant. The masts have length extension means for varying the height of the sail. Being manually operated and with the configuration described the invention can be utilized regardless of wind direction.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing use of the hand held sail of the invention as used in propulsion of a kayak;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hand held auxiliary sail of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the sail taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the sail of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is perspective view illustrating height extension features of the sail;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating collapsible features of the sail.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the sail as used with a surfboard;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the sail as may be used with a skateboard; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the sail as used with a boat.

DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements in the several views, there is illustrated an embodiment of the hand held auxiliary sail assembly of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the sail assembly of the invention, generally designated 10, as may be used with a kayak 11. As seen, the sail assembly 10 is securely attached by attachment means (one shown) generally designated 12, to the kayak 11 in front of the seating arrangement 13 of the user 14. The user 14 may then manually operate the sail 10 with independent multi-directional maneuverability of said masts to provide desired wind aided motion of the kayak 11. The sail 20 may be easily stretched tautly, partially or totally collapsed, tipped vertically backward or forward, rotated horizontally, or all in combination simultaneously as the wind conditions may warrant. With such flexibility of operation, the invention can be utilized regardless of wind direction.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the sail assembly 10 of the invention. As shown, the major components of the sail assembly 10 are the sail 20 having a transparent portion 21, support masts or tubing means 22, 23 and handles 24, 25 connected to masts 22 and 23 respectively. The sail 20 is constructed with side portions 26, 27 folded over tubing means 22, 23 respectively and then secured back to the main portion of the sail 20 thereby to form passageways, or sleeves, for the insertion of the respective masts 22, 23. The side portions 26, 27 are folded in a manner to provide a linear downwardly converging direction to the inserted masts 22, 23, that is, more material is increasingly folded over the masts 22, 23 to provide a downwardly converging, generally trapezoidal, configuration to the sail 10. After folding, the side portions 26, 27 are shown secured to the main body of the sail 20 by grommets 20 a. Additional grommets 20 a may be added along the bottom of the sail 20 for varying the convergence of the inserted masts 22, 23. It is understood that other suitable means of securing the folded side portions 26, 27 to the sail may be used, such as matching hook and pile patches that can be easily pressed together or pulled apart. The sail 20 may include light reflective material 20 b which for example is illustrated as provided at the upper corners of the folded side portions 26, 27.

After insertion of masts 22, 23 into their respective sleeves as indicated, the sail 20 is secured, at bottom corners thereof, to the masts 22, 23 by attachment means, generally designated 12. Although any suitable means may be used, attachment means 12 is shown to include a grommet 20 a at a respective corner of sail 20 secured by a tie-down 12 a to an eyebolt 12 b secured through a respective mast by a respective nut 12 c. The sail 20 is shown secured, at the top corners thereof, to the masts 22, 23 by attachment means 12 in a similar manner except that respective eyebolts 12 b are inserted into respective caps 28. Caps 28 are shown to include tassels 28 a for indicating wind direction and strength. Protective caps 29 are shown connected to the bottom ends of the masts 22, 23.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the sail of the invention taken along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2 further illustrating the components of the sail assembly 10. Handles 24, 25 are shown to be attached respectively to masts 22, 23 by means of T-shaped connectors 22 a, 23 a shown having female threads for receiving male threads 24 a, 25 a of handles 24, 25, respectively. Handles 24, 25 are shown secured to T-shaped connectors 22 a, 23 a and masts 22, 23 by means of threaded rods 30 and wing-nuts 31. It is understood that the handle attachment means are by way of example and could be attached by any suitable means. Further, although not indicated, one or both of the handles 24, 25 may be of a different configuration so as to be more ergonomically configured to enhance either one or two handed use, and/or configured to provide safety attachment means, such as a lanyard attached to the vehicle or to the user. Caps 28 are attached to the masts 22, 23 that accept eyebolts 12 b which are secured therein by nuts 12 c (see FIG. 3).

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the sail of FIG. 2 further illustrating the configuration and components of the sail assembly 10 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is perspective view illustrating height extension features of the sail assembly 10 wherein the masts 22, 23 are configured with elongating telescoping sections for varying the elevation of the sail assembly 10. Masts 22, 23 are shown to include telescoping sections 22 b, 23 b and 22 c, 23 c, respectively, mast section 22 c receiving section 22 b, which receives mast 22. Likewise, mast section 23 c receives section 23 b, which receives mast 23. Means for extending the masts 22, 23 may be of any conventional design that includes suitable hold and release features for such extension. Shown in phantom are attachment means 29 b indicative of a design suitable for attaching sail assembly 10 to a skateboard.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view indicating collapsible features of the sail assembly 10 that provide for easy disassembly and convenient storage. Although the sail assembly 10 can be collapsed in various ways, indicated is a method wherein all telescoping masts are shortened or removed, sail portions 20, 21 folded vertically at the center and the masts 26, 27 brought together and rolled into a convenient configuration. Alternatively, the handles 24, 25, the support masts 22, 23, and the mast telescopic sections can be removed and then wrapped in the sail 20. In these and other manners, the sail assembly 10 can be easily dismantled and collapsed resulting in a compact easily manageable configuration.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the sail of the invention as used with a surfboard 70. In this manner of operation the masts 22, 23 of sail 10 are each configured with elongating telescoping sections, generally designated 71, for elevating the sail 10 to a desired height above the surfboard 70. The lower ends of the masts elongated telescoping sections 71 are shown secured by attachment means 72, 73 to port and starboard sides, respectively, of the surfboard 70. The user 14 may then take a surfboard position as desired and grasping handles 24, 25 manipulate masts 26, 27 so that the sail 20 may be stretched tautly, partially or totally collapsed, tipped vertically backward or forward, rotated horizontally, or all in combination simultaneously as the wind conditions may warrant. With such flexibility of operation the sail assembly 10 has omni-wind capability in propelling the surfboard.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the sail of the invention as used with a skateboard 80. In this manner of operation the masts of sail 10 are again each configured with elongating telescoping sections, generally designated 81, for elevating the sail 10 to a desired height above the skateboard 80. The ends of the masts are securely attached to the skateboard by attachment means 29 b (one shown) respectively to the left and right sides of the skateboard 80. The user 14 may then take a position as desired relative to the skateboard 80 and sail 10 to operate the sail 10 in the manner as previously discussed, and thus propel the skateboard 80.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the sail of the invention as used with a small boat 90. As shown, the sail assembly 10 of the invention is securely attached by suitable attachment means 91 (one shown) respectively to both sides of seating means 92, which is in turn securely attached to the deck of the boat 90 by means of suitable attachment means 93. When the user 14 is seated in the seating means 92, the sail 20 is thus positioned in front of the user 14 who then may operate the sail 10 in the manner previously discussed to provide desired motion of the boat 90. Although not shown, it will be obvious that more than one sail assembly 10 may be utilized to provide wind propulsion of a vehicle in accordance with the invention.

In accordance with the above, there has been shown and described an improved hand operated light weight, multi-purpose, extendable and collapsible sail assembly for providing omni-wind propulsion for vehicles. While the invention has been described in connection with embodiments thereof, it is obvious that various modifications and changes can be made within the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A hand held portable omni-wind auxiliary sail assembly comprising: a sail having a generally trapezoidal main body with the top and bottom generally parallel and the sides symmetrically converging dependently; support masts disposed on each said side of said sail; and handle means attached to at least one of said masts for multi-directional manual maneuverability of said sail.
 2. The sail assembly of claim 1 wherein said sail includes a transparent section for providing visibility therethrough.
 3. The sail assembly of claim 1 wherein each said sides of said sail includes sleeve means for slidably receiving a support mast therethrough.
 4. The sail assembly of claim 3 wherein each said sides of said sail includes means for fixed attachment of said sail to an adjacent support mast.
 5. The sail assembly of claim 5 including means for varying the length of said masts.
 6. The sail assembly of claim 4 wherein each of said masts terminates in means for attachment of said sail to a vehicle.
 7. A hand held portable omni-wind auxiliary sail assembly comprising: a sail having a top generally parallel to a bottom; a support mast disposed on each side of said sail, said sail having side sleeve means for slidably receiving a respective support mast; said sleeve means converging downwardly and linearly to provide a generally trapezoidal configuration to said sail; and handle means attached to at least one of said masts for multi-directional manual maneuverability of said sail.
 8. The sail assembly of claim 7 wherein said sail includes a transparent section for providing visibility therethrough to a user.
 9. The sail assembly of claim 9 wherein each said sail side includes means for fixed attachment of said sail to a support mast.
 10. The sail assembly of claim 10 including telescoping means for varying the length of said masts.
 11. The sail assembly of claim 10 wherein said masts terminate in means for attachment of said sail to a vehicle receptive to wind aided propulsion.
 12. The sail assembly of claim 11 having collapsible features wherein said handles are removed, said support masts are removed with said telescoping means shortened or removed; and said handles, said masts and said telescoping means are wrapped in said sail resulting in a compact easily manageable configuration.
 13. A hand held portable omni-wind auxiliary sail assembly comprising: a sail configured with a trapezoidal main body with symmetrically converging dependent sides; each of said sides having a coactive support mast; sleeve means on each of said sides for slidably receiving a support mast therethrough; at least one mast having handle means for independent multi-directional manual maneuverability of said sail; and attachment means for fixedly attaching each of said sides to a support mast.
 14. The sail assembly of claim 13 wherein said sail includes a transparent section for providing visibility therethrough.
 15. The sail assembly of claim 14 including telescoping means for varying the length of said masts.
 16. The sail assembly of claim 15 wherein said masts terminate in means for attachment of said sail to a vehicle. 